Player of the week

Oum Kumpheak celebrated his 18th birthday two months ago and was the best player on show on Saturday

Every week of the Metfone C-League this season, I will select a player of the week and this will be featured in the new Khmer-language sports section of the Phnom Penh Post every Friday. Last week the choice was easy enough with Naga's Joseph Oyewole standing head and shoulders above everyone else in terms of their contribution to their team's performance. He was outstanding. Yesterday it was the turn of two players to shine in the two games played. For National Defense Ministry, teenage national team player Oum Kumpheak scored a couple of goals and is clearly relishing his team's improvement in form. With a Hun Sen Cup success under their belt already this season, the Army boys have now won their first two C-League matches and are looking confident and together as a team. In that unit, the baby-faced Kumpheak is beginning to really stand out. He has a good touch, his workrate is high and he has an eye for goal. His tackling can improve but he just 18 so he has lots of room to grow. Definitely one for the future and his showing on Saturday was the best of the day. The other performance of note came from Wat Phnom's Nigerian midfielder Uche Henry Asonibe. Playing in a deep and often defensive midfield position like Asonibe occupies doesn't usually give you the opportunity to get on the scoresheet. But as Prek Pra Keila were so bad and the goals were rattling in, Asonibe headed in a corner, slotted in a loose ball for his second and then completed his hat-trick with a 2nd half penalty. Not a bad day's work for the well-built stopper.

A very happy Uche Henry Asonibe moments after the end of Wat Phnom's 6-3 success